Machine for cutting paper into sheets and interfolding the sheets.



G. A. AICHER. MACHINE FOR CUTTING PAPER mm SHEETS AND INTERFOLDING THESHEETS.

Patented July 23, 1918.

5 SHEETS SHEET I,

.m M L (I. C 0 D E L H N 0 H A c U DI Or A 7 6 5 0O 7 2 1 WITNESSES:

G. A. AlCHER.

MACHINE FUR cunme PAPER mm sums AND INTERFOLDINGTHE sums.

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WITNESSES:

G. A. MCHER. MACHINE FOR CUTTING PAPER \NTO SHEETS AND INTERFOLDING THESHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2, l9l5.

Patented July 23, 1918.

J bHEETS SHEET 3 INVENTOR. $40M CL CL W] TN ESSE ATTORNEY.

G. A. AICHER. MACHINE FOR cumm; PAPER m0 SHEETS AND INTERFOLDINGTHESHEETS.

AP PLICATKJN FILED OCLZ. l lfl- 1,273,567. Patented Jul 1918.

5 SHEETS- 4.

ATI'ORA f),

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV A. AIGHER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB, T0 NATIONALPAPER PRODUCTS 00., 5A1? FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OFCALIFORNIA.

' MACHINE FOR CUTTING PAPER INTO SHEETS AND INTERFOLDING THE SHEETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1918.

Application filed October 2, 1915. Serial No. 53,704.

The invention contemplates a machine for cutting paper into sheets ofdefinite lengths, and interfolding the sheets successively into apackage for use.

The sheets when so interfolded may be separately pulled off the packageso that they may be used as paper towels in a paper towel dispenser ormay be otherwise used.

In this specification and the annexed drawings, I illustrate theinvention in the form which I considerthe best, but it is to beunderstood that I do not limit myself to such form because the inventionmay be embodied in other forms, and it is also to be understood that inand by the description herein, I intend to cover the invention inwhatever formit may be embodied.

Referin to the drawings accompanying this speci cation and annexedthereto:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

ig. 2 is a plan view of said machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the upper portion of themachine taken on line te -m of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view. of a portion of one of the cutting, creasing andfolding rollers, its journal and gear secured on its ournal.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the roller shown in Fig. 4. t Fig. 6 is aview of one of the other cutting, creasing and folding rollers, itsjourno] and. gear secured thereon and the cam engaging arm for actuatingthe creasing jaws on said roller.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line x -w' of Fig. 6 showing said cam andthe roller .engaging it. r

Figs. 8 and 9 are cross sections or the fitt roller shown in Fig. 6taken on line wm said figure showing two positions of the ollerandcreasing jaws.

Fig. 10 is a cross section of the roller shownin Fig. 12 taken on theline w -m ,Fig; 6, illustrating the ejecting fingers for ejecting thesheets from the roller, said finger being shown. in its normalinoperative position.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, showing the ejecting finger in itsejecting position.

Fig. '12 is a side elevation of a portion of the roller as shown in Fi11.

Fig. 13 is a view of a etail of construction of the conveyor forconveying the interfolded sheets from the machine.

Fig. 14 is a view of a package of interfolded sheets which have beeninterfolded on the machine.

Figs. 15 to 20 inclusive are views illustrating successively the sheetint-erfolding operation of the machine.

Fig. 21 is a view illustrating the ripping jaw operating means oftheroller s own in Figs. 11 and 12.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary section of the roller shown in Fig. 21, takenon line 22.

Fig. 23 is a view of the conveyor friction device.

In the drawings 1 indicates a base upon which a main frame 2 is mounted.Paper supply rolls 3 and 4 are respectively jour- 10 and cutter andfolder roller 12, and then between cutting, creasing and foldin rollers12 and 13, said feed roller and said outting, creasing and foldingrollers being journaled in the upper part 14 of a supplemental frame 15which is secured to the main frame 2, and said pressure roller beingjournaled in rock arms 11 mounted in said frame part 14. The upper part14 of the frame 15 is hinged at its lower edge at 16 to the lower part17 of said frame. The upper side edge of the upper part 14 is held .tothe lower part 17 of the frame 15 by a clamp 18 which is hinged to-tl'ielower part 17 at 19. A paper web 25 leads from the roll 4 around anidler 26 journaled in the frame 2, then over pressure roller 27 andbetween said pressure roller and feed roller 28, then between said feedroller and cutting, creasing and folding roller 29 and then betweencutting, creasing and folding rollers 29 and 30, said pressure roller 27bring journuled in rock arms 31 mounted in the lower part 17 of theframe the roller 13, by means of serews 3t).

15, and said Feed and said cutting, creasing and folding rollers beingjonrnaled in said frame part 17. Means which will be describedhereinatte' are DlOVltlQtl t'or rotatin the rolls 10, 12, 12B. 29, 30and 28. The we s 7 and 25 after they-pass res a-rtively between therollers 12 and 13 aml bet ween the rollers 29 and 30 pass between therollers 72 and 29, which are jonrnaled olose toether so that they gri pand draw said webs tween them when they are rotated. Means are providedon the rollers 12 and 13 for cutting the web 7 into definite lengths asthe web passes between said rollers. Said means comprise a toothed knife35 on the roller iii, a knife eo-aeting member 36 on the roller 12 and aspring pressed stripper 37 reeiprocally mounted in the roller 13 andnormally pressed beyond the periphery of the roller 13 by springs 37*.The knife 35 is preferably secured to a bar 38 countersunk within lhestripper 37 is retained in operative position on the roller 13 by dowels39* whirh extend through the bar 38 and the sides of the stripper andpermit the stripper to adapt itself to the surface of the eonta tt ingroller 12. The knife roan-ting member 36 is provided with a slot it).ulaptrd to rereivr the cutting edge of the knife 35 during the retationof the rollers 12 and 13, whereby the web 7 is out. \Vhen said rollersare rotated so that the knife and eo-mrting member come together to outthe web, the engagement of the periphery of the roller 12 with thestripper 37 presses the outer surface of the stripper against thetension of the springs 37 inwardly with relation to the roller 13, intoregistration with the periphery ol said roller. When the web has beenout by the knife and the rollers continue to rotate and move the knifeand coaeting member away from each other, the springs 37* press thestripper 37 outwardly with relation to the periphery of the roller 13and strip the paper from the knife. Means are provided on the rollers 29and 30 for cutting the web 25 into definite lengths as the web passesbetween said rollers. Said means are similar in construction andoperation to the cutting means on the rollers 12 and 13 as above described and comprise a toothed knife 45 seenred by screws 46 to a bar 47eountersnnk within the roller 30, {it knife eo-aeting member 48 on theroller 29 whieh member is provided with a slot 4!) to reeeive the edgeol' said knife, and a spring pressed st ripper 5t) reri 'irorallymounted in the roller 2! and under t nsion ol springs 51, said stripperbeing n'taineil in operative relation on the roller 30 by dowels 52which extend through the bar 47 and the sides of the stripper. Means areprovided on the rollers l2, [3,29 and 30 for folding the sheets cut fromthe webs 7'and 25 and for interfolding said sheets with each other whirhmeans will now be deseribed. A rreasing blade 60 is provided on theroller 13, whirh extends radiqlly from the roller and longitudinallythereof and is held in the roller by a wedge (32, which wedge is held inthe roller by serews 63. A bar US is eonntersunk longitudinally in theroller 12 and is provided with a longitudinal slot tit) in which iseseillalively mounted a gripping jaw (37 which is adapted to eo-aet witha gripping jaw (38 formed by one edge ol the slot 66 to grip the web 7as will be described. An arm 69 is seemed to one end of the jaw 67, onwhirh arm is journaled a roller 70 which engages a cam 71 to open thejaws (i7 and (t8 and to permit elosing of said jaws under the tension ofsprings 72. The ereaser blade 60 is adapted to project between and pressthe web 7 between the jaws 67 and 68 when said blade and said aws cometogether during the rotation of the rollers 12 and 1 3. As soon as saidblade and said jaws are rotated past each other and are disengaged, thecam 71 is in such relation to the roller 70 that the springs 72 pressthe jaw (37 toward the jaw (38 whereby the jaws grip the sheet be tweenthem and crease the sheet on the line upon which it is later folded. Acrease! blade 75 similar to the blade ('10 is provided on the roller 30and is held in said roller by wedge 7t3,whieh wedge is held in theroller by arrows 77. A bar 78 is eountersnnk longitudinally in theroller '29 and is provided with a. longitudinal slot 79 in which agripping jaw 80 is oseillatively mounted which jaw is adapted to ro-aetwith a gripping jaw 81 formed by one edge of the slot 7!) to grip theweb 25. An arm 82 is seem-ed lo oii'e end of the jaw 80, on whirh arm isjournaled a roller 85 which engages a ram 86 to open the jaws Ht) and Bland to per mit rinsing of said jaws under tension oi springs 87. Theereaser blade 75 anil the jaws 80 and 81 operate to t'rease the web 23in the same. manner in whirh the web 7 is creased by the blade (it) andjaws Ht) and 81. Preferably there is only one eutting knife on therollers 13 am] Ittt and as the diameter of said rollers and the rollersl2 and it is the same said knives rut the paper webs 7 and 25 onre in arevolution of the rollers and the length olthe sheet ent from the web isthe same as the rirrulnt'rrenee ol' the rollers. lrelerably there isonly one pair ol' gripping jaws on the rollers 12 and 2!), whieh jawsare lorated 180" from the kni l'e ('o-aeting members 3!; and t8 andlts'tl" l'rom the rntting position of the knives iii; and t5. llenee thegripping jaws a7 and (it-i and the gripping jaws 8H and H1 rrease thesheets, rut by the knives 35 and 4-5 midway between their ends. Therelative position of the rattling derives and the ereasing devices onthe rollers 12 and 13 and the lift ' roller.

' jaws 66 and 68 are 1n cent the crease in the J p rollers 29 and 30 issuch that when the webs 7 and 25 are brought together the forward edgeof one web will coincide with the crease of the other web. Pins projectfrom the roller 12 which are adapted to stick through the web 7 justbehind the point where the web is creasedon said roller and through theforward end of the web 25, so as to carry said forward end of the web 25away from the roller 29 and bring it adjaweb 7, as shown in Fig. 15, sothat the forward leaf of the sheet cut from the web 25 will be foldedbetween the leaves of the sheet cut from the web 7 as shown in Fig. 17.The rollers 13 and 10 are provided with recesses 91 and 92 respectivelyadapted to receive the pins 90, when said pins are adjacent saidrollers. Pins 93 proect from the roller 29, which are adapted to stickthrough the web 25, just behind the point where the web is creased onsaid roller and through the forward end of the web ,so as to carry saidforward end of the web 7 away from the roller 12 and bring it adjacentthe crease in the web 25 as shown in forward leaf of the sheet cut fromthe web 7 will be folded between the leaves of the sheet cut from theweb25 as shown in Fig. 18. The rollers 30 and 28 are respectively providedwith recesses 95 and 96 which are adapted to receive the pins 93 whensaid pins are adjacent said rollers. Theroller 12 is provided withaseries of annular grooves 100 in its eriphery in which fin rs 101 arerespective y mounted u on a roc shaft 105 which extends longitu inallythrough said The bar 65 and the jaw 66 are respectively provided withslots 106 and 107 which register with. each other and with therespective grooves 100 so as to receive the fingers 101 below theperiphery of the roller. An arm 108 is secured to one end of the rockshaft 105 in which arm is journaled a roller 106. Pins 109 and 110respectivel extend from the arm 108 and the end-0f t e roller 12 towhich pins are connected the ends of a spring 111 which is adaptednormally to hold the arm 108 and the shaft 105 in such position as toretain the fingers 101 within the grooves 100- and the slots 106 and 107below the periphery of the roller 12. A In 115 projects from the frame 2into the path of travel of the roller 106 and is adapted to be engagedby said roller when the roller 12 rotates to such position that theripping the position s own in Fig. 16, whereby the arm 108 and rockshaft 105 are locked and the fingers 101 swung outwardly against thetension of the spring 111, toapush the creased edge of the sheet outwary from between the gripping jaws 66 and 68 and to push said sheet andthe forward end of the sheet from the web 25 011' the pins 90. The meansfor rotating the Fig. 17,- so that the connected one end rollers 10, 12,18, 29, 30 and 28 will now be described. On journal of the roller 12 issecured a pulle 121 which may be driven throughthe medium of a belt bany suitable power not shown, to rotate the roller 12 in the directionof the arrow in Fig. 3. A gear 122 is secured on the other journal 123of the roller 12, which gear meshes with gears 124, 125 and 126 securedrespectively on the journals 127, 128 and 129 of the rollers 1'0, 13 and29 respectively through the medium of which ears the rollers 10,13 and29 are driven in t e direction of the arrows in Fig. 3. The gear 126 inturn meshes with gears 130 and131 on the journals 132 and 133 of therollers 28 and 30 respectively whereby said rollers are driven in thedirection of the arrows Fig. 3. A hand wheel 135 is also secured on thejournal 120 by means of which the roller 12 and the rollers 10, 13, 29,28 and of gears 124, 125, 126, 130 and 131 may be 30 through the mediumrotated by hand. The roller 29 is provided frame member-17'. The bar 78and the jaw 80 are provided with slots 143 and 144 which register withthe grooves in the roller 29 and form part of said grooves so that thefingers 141 may move through said bar and jaw. The forward ends of thefingers 141 are connected to a rod 145 which rod extends across theframe 142 and is connected to arms 146 which are secured on rock shaft147 journaled in the frame 142. An arm 150 is secured on the rockshaft147 to which is of a cam rod 151, the other end of which is forkedand straddles journaj 152 of roller 29. A roller 155 is journa ed on theforked end of rod 151, which roller works in a cam 156 secured on thejournal 152 whereby the fingers 141 are actuated, through the medium ofsaid rod, arm 15.0, shaft 147, and arms 146, to eject the creased edgeof the sheet on the roller 29 from between the jaws 80 and 81, and saidsheet and the forward leaf of the sheet on the roller 12 from the pins93 as shown in Fig. 18. The sheets when disengaged from the rollers 12and 29, drop upon a 164 and 165'journaled in the with ratchet ltlti by aspring 169 on the arm 168. Said arm is connected to an arm 146 by link170, so that when the arms 14?) are oscillated, as horoinbeforodescribed, tho arm 168 is oscillated and the pawl 167 engages theratchet 166, whereby the oonvoyor 160 is intermittently advanced tooonvey tho intor folded and packed shoots from the rollers 12 and 29. Atrietion device 175 acts upon the shaft; 164 to prevent any baoluvardniovomont of the conveyor. llogs 180 are adapted to engage the loweredges oi" the shootsto prevent said shoots slipping haokward oil theeonvo vor 160. The l'riotion derive 175 ooniprisos a shoe 17h pit'otodon the frame member 17 and engaging tho shalt It'd and a spring 177soourod on said frame nu-mhor and pressing said shoe into engagementwith said shaft. Friotion derives 185 and 186 are applied l'os]uu'ti\'olto the shafts 5 and ti to hold said webs under tension so that they willnot unwind freely.

The operation of the nlaohino as above doserihod may be briefly statedas follows:

The, web 7 is threaded between the rollers 10 and 11, thou between therollers 10 and 12 and then between the rollers 12 and t and the web 25is threaded between the rollors 27 and 28, thou botwoon tho rollers 2Hand 29. and thou between the rollers and 30. The relative position oithe outters and creases of the rollers 12 and IE5 and the rollers 29.-and 3 1 is suoh that they cut. aml erease tho web at; sin-h positionswith relation to oaoh other that when the. webs are brought togetherduring the rotation of tho rollers hotwflontho rollers 12 and thet'orward edge of oneavob ooinoides with tho oreaso of tho othonwob, asillustrated in Fig. 15. in which view"tluitorward edge of the web 25coinoidos withtho oroase in the web 7. In the position of the rollersand webs as shown in Fig. 15, the web 7 has been oroasod and tho rroasoot the web is between the jaws t t' and ($8 on the roller l); the pins90 proioots through the web 7 near tho oreaso and through tho web 25near its tors ward ond; the knife (it) has out. the web 7 into a shootar, the oroasor blade 75 has pressed the \Vll) 15 between tho jaws 8t)and HI on roller 2!); the pins 923 projoot through the web 25 and theForward ond ol tho shoot I!) has been gripped by and passed between thorollers l2 ,and l and has dropped on tho oonroyor Hill and l'oldod onits oroaso. As tho rollers rotate in tho dilootion of tho arrows fromthe position shown in Fig". 153, the oroasor blade [5 witlnlraws fromthe jaws SI] nd El the jaws are oausod to grip and i'l'oaw tho wob 23,and tho lingers ltll swing outuardtv and throw the oroasod part l' thohort w and the Forward ond l' the web 2.) wi l the pins 5N (tho jawstill and UH beingopen at this position) as illustrated in Fig, to. Inthis view the forward loaf of rhino by tho oonroyor 160.

shoot a: is folded dowr uodly on its crease. As the, rollers continue torotate, the crease in the web 25 and the rear edge of the sheet and theforward end of the Web 7 which follows the rear edge of sheet :v arefirst brought between the rollers '12 and 29 in ('O inoidomo with oaohother; the pins 93 are stuck through said toriard end of web 'T; the web2? is out by knife into a sheet 3/, the web 7 following sheet, a! ispressed by oroasor blado tit) bet ween the jaws till and (38 Fororoasing': tho oroaso in the web 35, the roar odgo ol the shoot 07 andthe forward end of tho web 7 Following shoot are then gripped by andbrought forward from between tho rollers 17. and 2!) with the roller 2!and tho 't'orwa rd Ieal of sheet 1 is interlolded hotwoontho loaves ofthe sheet a: as shown in Fig. l7, As tho rollers oontinne theirrotatiola the blade withdraws from between the jaws tit and 8 and thejaws grip and eroaso the following web 7, and the fingers 141 are movedl'onvardly against tho shoot; 3/, whereby the creased edge of the shoot1 is disengaged from jaws B0 and 81. and said oroasod edge and theforward edge of tho following web 7 are thrown off the roller 2!whereupon the oroasod edge ol the shoot 1/ drops upon tho. oonvoyer 160,as illustrated in Fig. 18. As the rollers continue their rotation theroar loaf of the sheet, I/ is gripped by and brought between the rollers12 and 29 and the shoot,- folded upon its oroaso; the blade 35 outs asin-eroding shoot from the web 7, the forward loaf of \\'lllt'll isintort'oldod with the, shoot 3/ and the blade 45 presses the web 25between jaws St) and 91 for oreasiug, as shown in Fig. 19. The positionof the rollers in Fig. 19 correspondsto their position shown in Fig. 15and the above described operations constitute tho oyolo of operation ofthe machine. l pon further rotation of the rollers the ahoro dosrrihodoperations are repeated, the shoot, taking the place ot tho shoot .1:and tho following shoot out 011' the web 25 tak-Z ing the plaoo of sheet3/ and so on as illustrated in Fig. 20, whereby the sheets areintorl'oldod and paoked into a package as shown in Fig. H and oonvoyedfrom the ma- Airy number of intorl'oldod shoots and paokages of anylength may be disengaged from the long paohago ol sheets which areoonveyed from the rollers by tho oonvoyen 'lhe paokages ot intorl'oldodshoots may then he used as a paper t wel dispense! as paper towels orolhorwiso. i V

l olaini't i t l. marhino ol' the character disclosed oomprising twopairs of rollers, l nttt llfi ftitlfl l'ooding a web holn'omgihiawh pairpl' rollers, one of oarh ol' sahl it's ot i'ollolfs oo-aoting with onoof tho other mia, moans on each pairot' rollers fiiigugutt-nlg the webpassingleavesof the-sheets as ed to swin means on each pair of rollersfor therebetween into definite lengths, and creasing the web passingtherebetween, said co-actin rollers being adapted to carry said webs anthe sheets cut from the webs between them, said cutting means and saidcreasing means being so positioned on the rollers that when saidwebs'and the sheets cut therefrom pass between said co-acting rollers,the transverse edges of each web will coincide with a the creases in theother. web, and means for folding the sheets on their creases and interfoldin the leaves of the sheets as they pass from tween said co-actingrollers and means forejecting the interfolded sheets from said co-actingrollers, a conveyor, and means for intermittently actuating saidconveyer in synchronism with said rollers for conveying the interfoldedsheets from said co-acting rollers when the sheets are ejectedtherefrom. a 7

2. A machine of the character disclosed comprising two pairs of rollers,means for feeding a web between each pair of rollers, one of each ofsaid pairs of rollers co-acting with one of the other pair, means oneach pair of rollers for cutting the web passing therebetween intodefinite lengths, jaws on one of each pair of rollers, a blade on theother of each pair of rollers for ressing the webs between said jaws, assai blade and jaws'come together during the rotation of the rollers,means for swinging said jaws together to gri and crease the webtherebetween as sai blade withdraws from the jaws during rotation of therollers, said4coacting rollers being adapted to carry said web andsheets cut from the webs between them, said cutting means and saidcreasing means being so positioned on the rollers with relation to eachother that when said Webs and the" sheets cut therefrom pass betweensaid co-acting rollers, the transverse edges of each web will coincidewith the creases in the other web, and means for folding the sheets ontheir creases and interfolding the they pass from between said coactingrollers and means for ejecting the interfo ded sheets from said c0-acting rollers.

3. A machine of the character disclosed comprising a. frame formed intwo,parts hinged together, a pair of rollers journaled ineach of saidthe other pair, said frame parts being adapton their hinge to separatesaid on each pair of rollers passing therebetween means on each pair ofrollers for creasing the web assing therebetween, said co-acting rollersing adapted to carry said webs and the sheets out there- Irom betweenthem, said cutting means and said creasing means being so positioned onairs of ro ers, means or cutting the web into definite lengths,

parallel relation,

' tached on]: section to lie ame parts, one pf each of; 'ot er saidpairs of rollers co-acting with one of creases and interfolding theleaves of the sheetsas they pass from between said coactin roller-sandmeans for ejecting the interfo ded sheets from said co-acting rollers.

Mechanism for cutting and interfolding sheets, which consists inthe'combination of two pairs of cylinders arran ed in parallel relation,the cylinders of eac pair having cooperating cuttin means formedthereon, gripper means carried by one cylinder of each pair foralternately folding the web sections detached by said cutting mechanism,creasing means carried by the other cylinder of each pair and arrangedtacooperate therewith, and feeding means for engaging the leading endsof the detached sections for causing the cut end of one section to liewithin the fold of the other section.

a 5. Mechanism for cutting and interfolding sheets, which consists inthe combina tion of two pairs of cylinders arran ed in the cylinders. ofsec pair aving cooperating cutting means formed thereon, positivelyactuated gripper means carried by one cylinder of each air foralternately folding the web sections deby said cuttin mechanism,creasing means carried by t e other cylinder of each pair and arrangedto cooperate therewith, and feeding means for engaging the leading endsof the detached sections for causing the cut end of one section to liewithin the fold of the other section.

-6. Mechanism for cutting and interfolding sheets, which consists in thecombination of two pairs of cylinders arranged in parallel relation, thecylinders of each pair aving cooperating cutting means formed thereon,gripper means carried by one cylinder of each pair for alternatelyfolding the web sections detached by, said cutting mechanism, creasingmeans carried by the other cylinderof each pair and arranged to.

pinscooperate therewith, and projectin for engaging the leading ends oft e detached'sections for causing the-cut end of within. the fold of theI section.

7." Mechanism. for cutting and interfold- 'ng' sheets, which consists inthe combination of two airs of cylinders arran d in arallel relation,the cylinders of eac pair aving cooperating cuttip means formed thereon,gripper means carried by one cylinder of each pair for alternatelyfolding the web sections detached by said cutting mechanism, meanscarried, by the other cylinder of each pair and arranged to cooperatetherewith, feeding means for en-

